Stormin Norman's Clutch Performance Sole Highlight in Bulls Lackluster Performance

Stormin Norman (on the right in a white shirt)

strolls off the court after soundly defeating

his opponent in a Tic Tac Toe Death Match

The Bulls played the Hawks last night and did their usual thing: play half-decent until the fourth quarter and then blow it. The real highlight of the game, however, was when I won the tic tac toe game on the court in the second quarter during a timeout.

Basically how the game works is that there is a giant tic tac toe board placed at center court. There are two contestants and each time a contestant makes a layup, he grabs an X or O and runs to center court to place it on the giant board. I went up against a kid I know from back in high school.

Yes that kid had just drank about 7 beers and could barely walk straight, however I went 4/5 on the layups to grasp victory from the hands of defeat. I know it was just a stupid game, but shooting a ball on the same court as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and other Bulls legends while 10s of thousands of fans cheered me on was a great feeling.

Should the Bulls sign me to a 10-day contract? I don't see why not. I ran harder than anyone in a Bulls uniform and I finished pretty well around the basket. Where even the great Derrick Rose struggled last night, Stormin Norman came through big time (yes Stormin Norman now talks in the third person).

What did I win, you ask? Perhaps a $1,000? A new TV? A gift certificate to ESPN Zone? Nope. A crappy XL t-shirt. Shitty I know, but the truth is I didn't need a prize. I play for the love of the game. Hear that Pax? I'll play for free. Sign Stormin Norman up now.

I Promise Not To Get To Excited About The Bulls Finally Beating LeBron

I don't want to get too excited about the Bulls big win against the Cavs last night. Thanks to StevieY, a noted Bulls hater, for keeping my excitement in check with his annoying sarcasm. Here is our conversation from last night towards the end of overtime when the Bulls had a 10 point lead (Edited a bit, I took out a lengthy conversation about the Nazi Shark's love for Duke basketball):

Stormin Norman: Do you see this game?

StevieY19: What game?

SN: The Bulls are up 11 in overtime against the Cavs. It's on national TV.

SY19: The Bulls?

SN: I know I'm shocked too.

SY19: I'm not shocked, I just couldn't care less. Are the Cavs even good?

SN: Lebron hasn't made a fg since the first minute of the 2nd half. Its like the opposite of what he did to Detroit that one time. Quick question: Guess who got DNP-CDed?

SY19: Who? Larry? Maybe they'll bring him in for a late collapse.

SN: I love that this game is nationally televised.

SY19: Why? So everyone knows the Bulls are back? Deng just got hurt from that back bump, I bet he'll be out 3-4, or probably 6-8 weeks.

SN: You're a dick.

SY19: Before you write 4 posts tomorrow about this meaningless January game, I have a post going up at 9 AM, so you'll have to post them at a different time.

SN: The Bulls look impressive, admit it.

SY19: I didn't watch the game but having Hinrich and Deng back obviously makes them better.

SN: And Gooden back too.

SY19: I already said one nice thing about the Bulls, I'm not going to start praising players I hate.

The conversation goes on and on, but you get my point. I know I said I would temper my excitement, but after reading this conversation again it just makes me think about how StevieY is sour grapes. This is a huge win for the Bulls. Does it mean they are "back"? No. But its one of the flashes this season that show they can be great with just a little tweaking here and there (most notably at the coaching position). Back-to-back wins against playoff teams is nothing to laugh at, especially after the rough stretch the Bulls just came out of. Go Bulls!